Heat pipe assembly

ABSTRACT

A heat pipe assembly includes a heat-transfer block and at least one heat pipe press-fitted thereon. The heat-transfer block has a surface. A heat pipe groove is formed concavedly on the surface. A fixing rib is protruded from the heat pipe groove. The heat pipe is press-fitted to the heat pipe groove, and the fixing rib impresses into the heat pipe in forming an impression thereon. Thus, the heat pipe is tightly secured onto the heat-transfer block.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The instant disclosure relates to a heat dissipating structure; moreparticularly, to a heat pipe assembly.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A heat-transfer block is often used with heat pipes to enhance heattransfer performance. When securing heat pipes to respective heat pipegrooves of the heat-transfer block, a soldering material is oftenemployed. Alternatively, solder-less press-fit method may be employed toaffix heat pipes to respective heat pipe grooves of the heat-transferblock. These heat pipe grooves may be configured to provide arched oroval cross sections. When the heat pipes are forced into respective heatpipe grooves, the heat pipes are pressed fitted to prevent accidentalseparation. However, because the heat pipe grooves have arched or ovalcross sections, the heat pipes tend to be loosened or forced out ofposition accidentally in absence of the soldering or adhesive materials.Further, for more than one heat pipe, the oval-shaped heat pipe groovesforce these heat pipes to be spaced further apart from one another. Dueto such limitation, the heat pipes cannot be closely arranged. On theother hand, if the soldering material or paste is opted to secure theheat pipes, the following issues may occur. If not enough solderingmaterial or paste is available, the heat pipes may be loosely attached.However, if too much soldering material or paste is applied, theexcessive amount would overflow the grooves as an eyesore to the users.Other disadvantages include the increase in material and manufacturingcosts.

To address the above issues, the inventor strives via industrialexperience and academic research to develop the instant disclosure,which can effectively improve the limitations as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant disclosure has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is one object of the instant disclosure to provide a heat pipeassembly, Without using the soldering material, heat pipes can bepress-fitted into respective heat pipe grooves to prevent displacements.The heat pipe grooves can be semi-circularly arched to group the heatpipes effectively.

To achieve this and other objects of the instant disclosure, the heatpipe assembly comprises a heat-transfer block and at least one heat pipepress-fitted thereon. The heat-transfer block has a surface, wherein aheat pipe groove is concavedly formed thereon. A fixing rib protrudesfrom the heat pipe groove, and the heat pipe is press-fitted to the heatpipe groove. The fixing rib impresses into the surface of the heat pipein forming an impression thereon, thus securing the heat pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled view of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an assembling view of a heat pipe assembly for a firstembodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of heat pipes with a heat-transfer block forthe first embodiment of the instant disclosure before flattening.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the heat pipes with the heat-transferblock for the first embodiment of the instant disclosure afterflattening.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of heat pipes with a heat-transfer blockbefore assembling for a second embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of heat pipes with a heat-transfer blockafter assembling for the second embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of heat pipes with a heat-transfer blockbefore assembling for a third embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of heat pipes with a heat-transfer blockafter assembling for the third embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of heat pipes with a heat-transfer blockafter assembling for a fourth embodiment of the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The various objects and advantages of the instant disclosure will bemore readily understood from the following detailed description whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings. However, the appendeddrawings are for references and explanation purposes only, therefore arenot used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a heat pipe assembly of the instantdisclosure. The heat pipe assembly comprises a heat-transfer block 1 andat least one heat pipe 2 press-fitted thereon for improving heattransfer.

The heat-transfer block 1 can be made of copper, aluminum, or othermaterials with good thermal conductivity. The heat-transfer block 1,having at least a bottom surface 10 for affixing to a heat source and atop surface 11 formed oppositely, may act as a base of a heat sink.According to this embodiment, the heat pipe 2 is secured to the bottomsurface 10 of the heat-transfer block 1, and the top surface 11 of theheat-transfer block 1 is further mounted with a plurality ofheat-dissipating fins 3, thereby forming a heat sink.

Please refer to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1. A plurality of heatpipe grooves 12 are formed concavedly on the bottom surface 10 of theheat-transfer block 1 in equal number to the heat pipes 2. However, itis to be understood that the design of the heat pipe grooves 12 at thebottom surface 10 of the heat-transfer block 1 is simply an example butnot a limitation. The cross section of each heat pipe groove 12 isarched in such a way of being approximately larger than a semi-circlefor press-fitting the heat pipe 2. At least one fixing rib 120 isprotruded from each heat pipe groove 12. The fixing rib 120 extendslongitudinally along the length of the heat pipe groove 12.

Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. 1 and 2 again. When the heatpipes 2 are forced into the respective heat pipe grooves 12, the fixingrib 120 is forced to abut and impress into the corresponding heat pipe2, thus forming an impression 20 thereon. By virtue of the fixing rib120, the original contact area of each arched heat pipe groove 12 is nolonger rounded, which also prevents the displacement or loosening of theheat pipes 2 from the heat pipe grooves 2. When the soldering materialis not being used, the fixing ribs 120 allow the heat pipes 2 to bedisposed directly onto the heat-transfer block 1 securely in asolder-less press-fit manner. Further, the exposed portion of each heatpipe 2 is flattened in forming a heat-absorbing surface 21. Theheat-absorbing surfaces 21 can be formed coplanarly with the bottomsurface 10 of the heat-transfer block 1 to contact the heat sourcesmoothly.

Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6, which show a second embodiment of theinstant disclosure. This second embodiment is substantially similar tothe aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the secondembodiment comprises a plurality of fixing ribs 120 spaced apart fromeach other. Based on the number of the fixing rib 120, the fixing ribs120 are evenly spread. By means of increasing the number of the fixingribs 120, connection stability between the heat pipes 2 and theheat-transfer block 1 is enhanced.

Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8, which illustrate a third embodiment ofthe instant disclosure. This third embodiment is substantially similarto the aforesaid second embodiment with the exception that the fixingribs 120 according to this third embodiment are disposed near the corneror two opposite corners of the heat pipe grooves 12 to enhanceconnection stability between the heat pipes 2 and the heat-transferblock 1, wherein the fixing ribs 120 abut inward against the heat pipes2.

FIG. 9 illustrates a heat pipe assembly in accordance with a fourthembodiment of the instant disclosure. This fourth embodiment is acombination of the aforesaid second and third embodiments, having theadvantages of both embodiments.

Based on the preceding structures, the heat pipe assembly of the instantdisclosure is obtained.

In summary, the instant disclosure is able to achieve the pre-determinedobjectives and resolve issues facing by conventional heat pipeassemblies. The instant disclosure has novelty and non-obviousness inconforming to the requirements for patent application. Therefore, thepresent patent application is submitted to obtain a patent forprotecting the intellectual property right of the inventor.

The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferredembodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics ofthe instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes,alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilledin the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instantdisclosure delineated by the following claims.

1. A heat pipe assembly, comprising: a heat-transfer block having asurface, a heat pipe groove being formed concavedly thereon, a fixingrib being protruded from the heat pipe groove; and a heat pipepress-fitted to the heat pipe groove, the heat pipe being impressed bythe fixing rib in forming an corresponding impression.
 2. The heat pipeassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface is a bottom surfaceof the heat-transfer block.
 3. The heat pipe assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the heat pipe groove of the heat-transfer block isarched slightly larger than semi-circularly shaped.
 4. The heat pipeassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat pipe groove has morethan one fixing rib formed thereon.
 5. The heat pipe assembly as claimedin claim 4, wherein the fixing ribs on the heat pipe groove are spacedapart from one another.
 6. The heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1,4 or 5, wherein the fixing rib extends longitudinally along the lengthof the corresponding heat pipe groove.
 7. The heat pipe assembly asclaimed in claim 1, 4 or 5, wherein the fixing rib is disposed adjacentto one corner of the corresponding heat pipe groove.
 8. The heat pipeassembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the fixing ribs aredisposed near respective corners of the heat pipe groove.
 9. The heatpipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the heat pipeis increased to more than one, and wherein an equal number of the heatpipe groove is formed on the heat-transfer block.
 10. The heat pipeassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat pipe and theheat-transfer block are kept in direct contact.